This article is about the Nightmare Time story. You may be looking for the song.
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The Hatchetfield Ape-Man features in the first episode of Nightmare Time, and is the first story of the three-part livestreamed reading. It was performed on October 10, 2020 and released for free on YouTube.
Summary[]
Lucy Stockworth, an English Duchess who visits Hatchetfield every year in search of the mysterious 'Wooly-Foot', is about to give up the hunt when she meets a reclusive biology professor who's made a startling discovery...
Synopsis[]
The story opens with Donna Daggit making a report on the Hatchetfield Ape-Man for the Hatchetfield morning news show Morning Cup O' News. She mentions other cryptids such as Willabella Muckwab, the muck witch, and Lumber Axe, the mad woodsman, but primarily focuses on "Wooly Foot," or the Hatchetfield Ape-Man. Donna interviews Duchess Lucy Stockworth, who tells her a story. When Lucy was younger she climbed a tree to look at some nighthawks. However, the branch snapped, and she fell. Before she hit the ground, Lucy was caught by the Ape-Man. Donna then reports on how, since the death of her father, Lucy has used her estate to return to Hatchetfield every year and search for the Ape-Man in order to thank him.
Lucy is about to leave Hatchetfield to return to England when she is interrupted by Professor Hidgens. Hidgens tells her that he believes he has found the Hatchetfield Ape-Man and would like her help identifying it. Lucy and Hidgens return to his manor where Lucy meets the Ape-Man. Due to Hidgens supposedly having to shave him to treat his wounds, the Ape-Man looks very much like a normal, naked man. Lucy introduces herself to the Ape-Man and he reveals his name to be Konk, much to Hidgens's surprise. Hidgens convinces Lucy to stay with him to help teach Konk human ways until he is ready to join the human world, Lucy agrees.
A few week pass. Lucy and Konk form a firm relationship, and Lucy slowly begins to fall in love with Konk. However, the peace is soon interrupted by the appearance of Lucy's fiancé Jonathan Brisby. Lucy attempts to introduce him to the Ape-Man, but Jonathan is not fooled. He tells Lucy that she is being lied to, and that the Ape-Man is merely a naked man. Annoyed by this, Lucy takes off her engagement ring and storms from the room, with Jonathan following her. Hidgens appears offended by the notion that Konk is a fake. However, it is then revealed that the Ape-Man is really just a man- Ted. It is revealed that the two have been scheming to get Ted to marry Lucy so he can steal the Stockworth fortune.
Hidgens takes Jonathan hunting and reveals to Jonathan that Konk is actually a fake. Jonathan tells Hidgens that he's going to expose him, however, Hidgens threatens to kill him, chasing him through the woods until he eventually does.
Back at the manor, Lucy is desperately trying to get a hold of Jonathan but is unable to. Ted, once again disguised as Konk, attempts to convince her to forget about Jonathan and stay with him. It is at this moment that Hidgens returns, telling Lucy that Jonathan left for England and that the marriage is off. Lucy leaves to attempt to stop him. Once again alone, Hidgens reveals to Ted that he killed Jonathan, and Ted is horrified. He attempts to back out of their plan, as he's come to truly love Lucy, but Hidgens refuses to let him.
That evening, Lucy finds a trail of roses leading to the greenhouse, where she finds Konk dressed up in a suit. Ted proposes to Lucy, but before she can reply, they are interrupted by Hidgens, who is entirely naked. Hidgens proposes to Lucy, telling her that he is the real Ape-Man. He exposes Ted as a fake by going through his phone. Lucy is shocked, and Hidgens demands that she marries one of the two men, or else he'll kill her. Lucy tries to run, but Hidgens shoots at her. However, the bullet is blocked by Ted jumping in front of it. Lucy pulls Ted out of the greenhouse and locks the door. She is unable to save him and he dies in her arms.
Hidgens manages to escape from the greenhouse, and chases Lucy through the woods. Lucy is almost able to get away from him until she gets trapped in one of his bear traps. Hidgens catches up to her and demands that she write him a check, handing over her entire fortune of 30 million dollars, to fund his musical Workin' Boys. He's about to pitch it to her when she tells him that she can't give him the money as she spent it all searching for the Ape-Man. Hidgens becomes angered by this and is about to shoot Lucy before she hits him with a nearby branch. She then uses the branch to open the bear trap and climb up a tree. Hidgens mocks Lucy, likening her to Becky Barnes, who is known to climb trees. Lucy calls out for help, and it comes- in the form of the real Hatchetfield Ape-Man. The Ape-Man rips off Hidgens's arms, leaving him to die in the forest. The branch Lucy is sitting on snaps and she falls, but she is once again caught by the Ape-Man. He reveals his name to be Chumby, and the two walk off into the forest.
Cast[]
Additional Crew[]
| Crew Member | Job |
|---|---|
| Corey Lubowich | Technical support |
| Matt Dahan | Musical accompaniment |
| Nick Lang | Narrator |
Song(s)[]
| Song | Sung by |
|---|---|
| The Hatchetfield Ape-Man | Jaime Lyn Beatty |
| Jeff Blim |